Improvement in boot and shoe lasting machines



2 Sheets-Sheet; 2. G. W. COPELAN'D. Boot and Shoe Lasting Machine.

No. 201,914. Patented April 2.1878.-

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N. PETERS. PHOTQLITHOGRAPHEH, WASHINGTON/D C.

UNITED vS"r'ntlmis GEORGE w. coPELAND, or MALDEN,

PATENT MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE COPELAND LASTING MACHINE COMPANY,OF HARTFORD, CONN.

IMPROVEMENT IN BOOT AND SHOE LASTING MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 201,914, dated April 2,1878; application filed f February 16, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

' Be it known that I, GEORGE W. GOPELAND, of Malden, in the county ofMiddlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement inBoot and Shoe LastingMachines, of which the following is aspecification:

This invention relates to lasting-machines in which an upwardly-movingconformable surface or surfaces are caused to act upon the sides of alast from the median line from instep to toe, or from surfacesimmediately adjacent thereto, in lifting, straining, stretching, andfitting an upper thereon by the continuous vertical movement of saidsurface or surfaces upon the sides of a last, perfectly fitting theupper thereon, and conforming it thereto in constantly-succeeding areas;and it consists in the peculiarly-constructed girth, hereinafterdescribed, and in the combination of said girth with proper actuatingmechanism.

In the drawings, Figure l is a transverse vertical section of the upperportion of the machine, with the jaws and girth in position preparatoryto lifting 5 Fig. 2, a transverse vertical section, showing the jawslifted, the girth under strain, and the upper partially fitted to thelast; Fig. 3,. a transverse vertical section, showing the jaws closed,the edge of the girth lapping upon the insole, and the fitting of theupper completed 5 Fig. 4, a plan of the girth, girth-supporting finger,and actuatingj aws with the last removed, Fig. 5, an inverted view ofthe girth, showing its position and operation in relation to the last atthe commencement and at the end of its action, Fig. 6, a plan of the twoportions of the girth, separated to more clearly show the shape of eachpart 5 and Fig. 7 ,a modilcation of the particular girth herein setforth.

The girth herein described is an improvement on the various girthsheretofore patented to me, and fully set forth in Letters Patent Nos.156,405, 181,772, 182,560, 183,539, in that it conforms more completelyto the inequalities and varying curvatures of alasts surface, and is notdependent upon the correct shaping of every part to insure its perfectworking as a wholethat is, each section of the girth performs its workwithout relying upon or substantially influencing the action of theadjacent sections-and therefore the complete girth possesses a greaterrange of adaptation and adjustment than would be the case if it wereformed from one piece possessing inherent elasticity.

My improved girth is constructed in two parts, or rather sections, A A',almost exact counterparts, as shown in Fig. 6. These sections areadapted to act on opposite sides of a last, and consist of the straps a,either with or without the connecting portion b, graduated in length andwidth to conform to the surface to be operated upon, and fastened attheir lower end to coiled or other springs, or their equivalents, o, andat their upper ends to the adjustable iingers d, projecting from thejaws e, in such a way that the lower portions of the two sectionsinterlace 0r draw by each other as the girth-supporting iin gers areraised. The jaws c are provided with the lifting and closing movementsalready patented to me, and the girth-carrying fingers may be given anyof the adjustments enumerated therein.

It is intended that the two sections of the girth shall be of someinelastic, or comparatively inelastic, material, and that the necessaryyielding property shall be derived from 'the springs, weights, or otherequivalent.

It will be seen that each section of the girth extends diagonallydownward across the machine from the end of the girth-supporting fmgerson one,and the upper side to the springs or otheryielding device on theother and lower side.

It will also be observed that in locating the two sections of the girthor series of straps in the manner set forth, the lower parts thereofmust interlace or cross each other, and that the girth is so cut or thestraps so arranged that the space between the straps on one section ofthe girth are opposite the straps of the other section.

It will be observed, further, that the line from which the straps drawshould be a line substantially coincident or parallel with the medianline from instep to toe of the last upon which they operate.

In operation the girth fulfills lthe function required of it in asuperior manner. Its parts are inexpensive and of great durability, and

or weights on the opposite side of the machine,

substantially as described.

2. ln a lasting-machine, the combination o' unyielding straps, connectedor disconnected7 and interlaced, as described, means for lifting thesame against the sides of alast in straining and iitting the upperthereon, and yielding devices for opposing said lifting movement, allarranged to operate substantially as described.

GEO. W. COPELAN D.

4 Witnesses:

F. F. RAYMOND, 2d, A. J. OEuTINGER.

